Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On socialism

In the article, ‘Needed, a renewed socialist concern, (Feb. 5), V.R. Krishna Iyer laments about the “star culture” in the upper echelons of Indian society. President Pratibha Patil, in her Republic Day-eve address, echoed similar sentiments when she said that the benefits of economic reform have not percolated to the lower strata of society. However, Gandhian ideals will cut no ice with members of the new generation who are enjoying the fruits of globalisation via highly paid desk jobs, often without breaking any sweat. They have more exciting things to do in life than wipe away the tears from the eyes of their less fortunate countrymen. Socialism cannot be imposed in a free democracy; it must begin at home, where children should be taught to lead austere lives and care for their poor friends. Articles such as that of Mr. Iyer should be discussed in classrooms so that students are made aware of the severe economic disparity in their country. If parents and teachers do not set examples with their own lives, socialism in India will remain a distant dream.

Binod Sreenivasan,

Leeds, U.K.

Socialism did not create wealth anywhere as we have seen in the past 60 years. Countries became successful when they moved away from it. Let us not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, just because it cannot lay enough eggs for everyone. What we need is a better and accountable system for redistribution of wealth, without killing the source! Let us first bring this social reform first: exclude the creamy layer from the reservation system. Let the underprivileged have the first shot at reservation.

Koti Sreekrishna,

Mason, Ohio

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